Glen Eagle Golf Club

Glen Eagle plays like a Utah-born cousin of a Scottish links—less windswept perhaps, but just as artful in how it tests your game. Between the firm fairways, contoured greens, and the ever-present bunkers, there's enough links-like character here to impress serious golfers. Even though it’s not true links golf, Glen Eagle echoes the spirit well enough to provide the general aura, with the Wasatch Mountains paralleling the hills and peaks of the world-famous Gleneagles Course of Scotland and its distant peaks (The course guide mentions this as the world-famous Scottish course that inspired this layout).

Course Features:

Glen Eagle’s character derives from its large, contoured, and fast greens, plus forty-five bunkers reminiscent of Scottish links. There are also the water hazards, mostly wetlands and canals, that often border the fairways. A few small ponds serve as strategic threats, especially on two of the par-5s. The course’s architect, William H. Neff, contoured what had been, likely, flat terrain to create gently tumbling fairways, almost always bordered by mounding, and designed green complexes that often stood well above grade.

Mountain Vistas:

Looking east at some holes on the course, the stunning Wasatch Front Mountains are visible; from the 15th tee, the perspective was perhaps the nicest one I had. Moreover, to the west, the northern and central sections of Antelope Island are periodically within view.

Playing the Course (sample holes):

After a somewhat tame opening hole, the par-3, 190-yard second presents a tougher test. Its large green has a chipping area left, but is also well-protected by three bunkers and a marsh threatening short and right. At 520 yards, the par-5 third—the #5 index—rewards aggressive play, especially following a good drive, but it still punishes big misses.

One of the best four-pars on the course, the 460-yard fourth sports a fairway wide enough to accommodate a slightly errant drive. The approach ideally plays from the left side to open up a green which is angled to the fairway. The 410-yard eighth hole demands precision off the tee, with hazards on both sides and a green that slopes back to front. The ninth is similar but longer; however, it provides more wiggle room on the drive.

On the back nine, the par-5 eleventh offers a solid birdie chance: after a drive to a right-doglegging fairway, the green is open in the front. Even a short second leaves a fine chance to pitch and putt for birdie. In contrast, the twelfth is a demanding target hole requiring two precise shots, with trouble—OB, water, bunkers, and trees—everywhere.

Seventeen, a beautiful and classic hole, may be the toughest short par-4. Here, most should lay up short of the watery cross hazard, though the fairway remains tight. The par-5 eighteenth, dubbed the Loch Ness Monster and rated hardest, starts with a forced water carry. Most players will choose to lay up on the second shot. But the approach shot is demanding: it must carry the pond that encircles an island, on which a green and four large bunkers are situated. The greenside bunkers are embedded in a large, square-ish swath of rough–also part of the island.

The Feel of a Links?

I would say yes—there is a general aura here that evokes the spirit of a links course. When American courses attempt to model themselves after Scottish links, they inevitably face limitations. Chief among them is the near impossibility of mimicking the natural contours and terrain of a “true” links. The irregular—and often unpredictable—bumps, ridges, and swales, especially across fairways, are difficult to replicate.

Yet, this course manages a fairly compelling imitation of such ground movement. Several large humps along the fairway edges hint at the look and feel of natural sandhills. This layout also captures the openness typical of a links layout, with generously wide fairways and a notably sparse use of trees. The sandy soil is another plus, though it is finer than the coarser sand commonly found on classic linksland. Even so, playing surfaces tend to be firm: fairways run fast, and lower-trajectory shots can often chase up onto the greens. A few water hazards resemble burns or small lochs, not unlike those created at Gleneagles' Centenary Course.

The conditions here were excellent in virtually every respect, featuring outstanding bunkers and greens overall.

Friendliness: Great as well, including the two staffers I met in the clubhouse and my interesting playing partners–we enjoyed the round together and they provided well-informed advice about Utah.

Some Conclusions:

What I appreciate about links courses can be summed up not only by what they offer—broad fairways, strategic bunkering—but also by what they lack: namely, an overreliance on intrusive water hazards and excessive tree coverage. This course succeeds in similar ways. Alongside its generous fairways, it offers:

--interesting ground movement,

--a varied layout that shifts gears often, highlighted by a handful of holes that call for thought as much as talent, and

--a setting that adds pleasant visual distraction, with handsome mountain backdrops.

Distance off the tee is certainly an asset at Glen Eagle GC. But if your game leans more toward finesse and shot-making than firepower, you may want to scale back to a shorter set of tees to better enjoy the strategic elements in play.

I am very disappointed with my most recent experience at Glen Eagle. I came over after work to use their practice facility on Tuesday April 15 at around 4:40 pm without realizing the range would be closing at 5 pm. (There was no signage posted) the young lady in the pro shop sold me a large bucket without saying a word about the range closing early. Almost as soon as I finished stretching another young lady (I’m assuming in high school) came out to where I was on the range and picked up my bucket of balls without saying a single word only slightly muttering under her breath that she needed to take my bucket. She only explained what was happening with quite a bit of attitude when I asked what was going on. When I went to get refunded for this frustrating situation the young lady in the pro shop gave me attitude. Overall terrible experience. I will no longer be playing this course or using its facilities and I recommend you do the same

The course is fine, but they force you to pay $14 to get a cart even if you want to walk, on top off the fee Already paid. won’t book w TeeOff here anymore

Very fast but true greens, some brown patches in the fairways but most all of it is marked ground under repair so you don’t have to play off of it. Really fun design, will be back for sure. Friendly pro shop staff too

Glen Eagle GC is a very fun course with diverse holes and challenges; our only problem today was that we had a very slow, beginner golf group (foursome) immediately in front of us for which we waited on almost every hole at the tee box, fairway, and greens; in the second green, one of them told us there was slow play ahead of them with no where to go, and they didn’t let our threesome play through; they obviously don’t understand golf etiquette which declares slower players should let faster players through; additionally, they would drive their golf carts around the greens on many holes despite none of them having a handicap flag on their carts; they were all younger than 45; otherwise, the course played well, and the staff was very friendly; we did call the clubhouse on the 7th tee box to ask for a marshal to come out and address the slow playing group; it never occurred.

Very open course with a lot of water. Kind of a links style course since is near and on wetlands. Very flat and usually windy since there are very few trees.

I love the layout of the course. Very challenging but also fun. A lot of bumps and divots not fixed on the greens that messed up my putts. But overall good

I booked through Golf now and got a great price for 18 hole walking then I found out that I had to pay a mandatory cart rental at the course. I golfed this course several years ago but had not been back until yesterday. There is a frisbee course through the first nine holes so green location is confusing. There are water hazards on both sides of most holes so bring plenty of balls. Several of the holes have a hidden stream running across the fairway. There are not very many trees so very little relieve from the heat.

The course is great. The staff, not so much. After trying to charge me again, I had to show them I was pretty paid from the app. Then, they said it was mandatory I paid for a cart even though I was walking? Hmmmm..

I have played Glen Eagle GC a few times this spring during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I have been reimpressed; the only experience that was disheartens the wind which is of no consequence for the course; I recommend this course to all golfers with hesitation to the beginners.

Glen Eagle GC is a very fun, challenging course with a great layout and great staff; the only real issue we encountered was a 2-some (1 riding, 1 walking) held up out 3-some (all walking) on several holes, but it was a great round; we will be returning next weekend to play there again.

Every other golf course I’ve purchased tee times on their “hot deals” it’s totally been worth it. This place says they have a “hot deal” on the app. You’ll actually end up paying the exact same as you would regularly. Most all other courses include the cart. This place doesn’t and charges you normal fees for it. Wouldn’t have came if I knew that. Hence why I tried to do the “hot deal”. If you want a good deal, pick any other course around.

This deal was a “hot deal” on Golf Now. It was $25 per person (with other fees about $30) for 18 holes. I’ve played other places and they included a cart, Glen Eagle did not. They made all 3 of us pay $16 each for a cart. Our totals after that came out to $46. We asked the staff what the price was normally for 18 holes and cart and we were told $46. So this wasn’t a hot deal at all, we were pretty disappointed with that.

I hadn’t played Glen Eagle GC for a couple of years but realize I enjoy it more than I could remember; the pace I’d play on the front nine was fairly slow as several groups were only playing nine holes apparently because the back nine opened up and went smoothly; the course was in good condition for a winter/spring round with greens that were quite fast in comparison to other courses in the area; I will add Glen Eagle as a regular course I play several times a year.

Mosquitoes are thriving on most of the course. Anything besides soaking myself with Off would be great. Not sure courses have abatement programs though. Otherwise, I'll play closer to the Wasatch range. Great to play Glen Eagle mid-day

Tom

I have played this course more than 100 times in the past 13 years and it only gets better with age. It's a challenging links-style course that demands some long drives and some position shots off the tee. The fairways are lined with marshes and tall grass, though the rough is usually not too heavy. Greenside collection areas gather wayward approach shots on many holes. Wonderful views of the Wasatch Mountains on each hole.

The 18th is a true monster. Par five to an island green...very challenging and fun final hole.